UTAS Stadium upgrade noise pleases Northern netball duo

The Tasmanian Netball League's Northern Hawks and Cavaliers, who have battled in the grand final for the past two seasons, have thrown their support behind a new space.

It would be the first indoor sports venue to be built in Launceston since 1985.

Northern Hawks president Ann Pearce described the current situation as "everyone fighting for the same space" with the reigning premiers having to train at various school facilities during pre-season.

"We would appreciate any venue at the minute," she said. "We have the Silverdome and even that, there's no guarantee.

"Netball Tas will send their roster to them but it's pretty much what they can fit in ... we don't have a locked-in agreement or anything like that."

READ MORE: What's next for the UTAS Stadium upgrades?

Pearce continued to say that the benefits of the upgrades could spread well beyond the State League as the top-class facilities could attract more interest for national and international contests, which would potentially see a rise in participation.

"It's like any sport, if you have AFL here you are going to have more kids that want to play AFL and it's the same for us - same for netball," she said.

READ MORE: What Launceston thinks of proposed $208m UTAS Stadium plans

"If they can see the progression, all little girls or boys want to be the best they can be and to see big games like that, it's like the footy.

"It obviously generates income for businesses in the community as well so there are lots of benefits from it."

Cavaliers co-coach Dannie Carstens agreed, crediting Netball Tasmania on their ability to get top-level netball in the state previously.

"We have had in the past Diamonds matches and Super Netball matches in Tasmania but there's going to be a bit more of a launching pad to get that happening," Carstens said.

"They'll probably jump at the fact to get down into a new stadium and it can be more of an ongoing thing.

"It would be another great opportunity for juniors and netball lovers of all walks of life to see the best."

If completed, the 5000-capacity stadium will be located on the old bike track site at the southern end of UTAS Stadium, almost 1.5km from the Brisbane Street Mall.

"Location is always important when you're planning and developing things like that," Carstens said.

"If there's a netball game on at a specific time and you're floating around town, people are probably more likely to swing by and check it out as opposed to if it's out a bit further."

Like Northern Hawks president Pearce, Carstens was pleased that a new indoor facility has been suggested, acknowledging that the stadium shortage doesn't just affect netball with basketball's Northern home, Elphin Sports Centre rapidly aging.

"When there's heaps of rain, I know some of Elphin's courts are underwater and stuff like that so I think we are really in desperate need of any indoor sporting facilities but especially for netball," she said.

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT

"In the North we've got Hoblers Bridge, which is obviously outside and when we play State League matches it's through the Silverdome, which are great but it's also a private enterprise and not necessarily a designated netball facility so when there are big events at the Silverdome or cycling or whatever it may be, you're always competing for space."

Alongside the $99 million indoor facility are plans for a seating upgrade for UTAS Stadium itself to redevelop the eastern and northern stands with a retractable lower level to create a rectangular field - increasing the capacity to 24,112.

Drafts of the plans will go to council on Thursday for endorsement.